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To endeavor to bring to all residents of the Five States the most current and important news from across the entire Five States region. Never yellow, the Five States Herald vows to serve only the people of the Five States, from New Austin to Lemoyne, free of charge now and forever.
Revenue agents involved in major gunfight along the Lannahechee River
Revenue agents flooded Annesburg this week in an attempt to seize a boat operated by escaped prisoner Lemuel Pike. Federal authorities received a tip from a man allegedly hired to assist in unloading material for Pike that he was coming in to dock. The tipster did not know exactly what was being transported, only that they had been hired by a wanted man. Pike had help that was not accounted for, four cowpokes who arrived just before Hixon. The Herald was also tipped off about something big happening in Annesburg and so I was there to see it all.
Agent Reid Hixon himself arrived with reinforcements. Sheriff Jones of Annesburg said of the reinforcements, “Damn feds blew up our small town’s population for a moment, so damn many of them.” Pike and the four cowpokes refused to surrender. The boat must have had some trouble starting, as the cowpokes hunkered down and began shooting at the revenue agents. Residents had to take cover in buildings and many fled into the mines as the shooting started.
More than one witness claimed that Agent Hixon took cover and hid as well, before fleeing on the train. The Federal Bureau of Revenue denies such claims. The cowpokes successfully held off the agents until the boat got moving down the river. Agents attempted to cut them off near Van Horn on land and by river, as agents attempted to bring Pike’s boat down with dynamite. Using the railroad, Agent Hixon was able to get move his remaining agents south, where they attempted to take advantage of Pike running the boat aground. The agents, however, proved incapable of overtaking the boat before it got free.
As Pike’s boat moved further south, the agents pulled back. Lemoyne is famously anti-federal government. Following over a decade of federal soldiers enforcing federal laws during the Reconstruction, Lemoyne became resistant to the federal government enforcing its will on the state. While the Bureau of Revenue claims state hostility had nothing to do with their decision to pull back, no other explanation seems plausible. It is highly unlikely Agent Hixon could have brought dozens of agents further into Lemoyne without facing resistance. Pike and his escort escaped further south down the Lannahechee.
Celebrations and ritual suicide in Gaptooth Ridge
By Wylie Frey
The religious group the Respawners met at the Sea of Coronado this week for celebration and ritual suicide. For those on the verge of understanding what the Respawners believe to be the truth, that we live in a false world, ritual suicide is seen as a strong tool for completing one’s conversion. “We ain’t gonna die and if they are close to understanding, they’ll notice when we come back,” said one Respawner I spoke too. The gathering started with food, celebration, and the telling of stories. The stories were wild and completely unbelievable.
One story came from a bounty hunter, who claimed to have been killed by a target’s henchman, only to “respawn” into the world in front of their fleeing target. Another was a trader, who said they were accosted while making a delivery so they closed their eyes and “disconnected” from the world, only to wake up in their camp as if nothing happened. One of the most interesting stories came from a cowpoke who said this life they live now is not their first. “I’ve been in the Five States before, twice. But you probably wouldn’t believe it if I told you both times were in the future! And as different people! The world’s gonna change in the next decade!” Unbelievably, another topped this story with a claim that sometimes instead of being in the Five States, they are in a different body outside of the Five States in a place called San Andreas.
Following these fanciful stories, the Respawners moved to the San Luis River and attempted to cross the cold river in the dark of night. Many attempted to cross the river only to drown. It seemed to me that more people attempted to swim across than were at the previous celebration. I did not attempt it of course, because I am not foolish enough to think I can cheat death.
Dead man found at bottom Pike’s Basin
By Alois Burditt
A group of adventurers traveling through Pike’s Basin came across a body at the bottom. The dead man had a pistol still holstered and cash on his person, indicating the death as not part of a robbery. However, the body was found far enough away from the cliff to rule out an accident. The motivation behind the murder and identity of the murderer are unknown.
Hermit complains about not getting mail as frequently
By Jane Duran
A man living in isolation on the shore of frozen Barrow Lagoon has complained about a decrease in mail deliveries being made to his cabin. According to the hermit, enterprising cowpokes frequently made deliveries. The U.S. Postal Service often drops mail in a central location and relies on private citizens to distribute it. The Adlers had taken it upon themselves to pick up the mail for folks in the area but have relied on others to deliver the mail. “Fewer folks coming to the ranch so fewer folks to deliver the mail,” said Sadie Adler. This of course, did not placate the hermit, who does not want excuses. He just wants his mail.
Skirmish in Quaker’s Cove
By Nick McCrary
Blackwater residents reported shooting coming from Quaker’s Cove early this week. A posse was rounded up to investigate and came across a gunfight between two gangs. It appeared that a gang of thugs had wanted to make Quaker’s Cove their own hideout but the Cove was already occupied by another gang. The Blackwater posse took cover and watched the fight play out. The defenders were not as well armed, but were able to defend their position until something exploded and sent the defenders into a panic. However, just as the attacking gang gained the upper hand, a few federal revenue agents who appeared to have been staking out the position attacked.
The appearance of revenue agents indicate that the defending gang was likely a gang of moonshiners and the explosion may have been a moonshine still. The Blackwater posse pulled back at sight of federal agents. The Bureau of Revenue declined to comment on this specific case. No other witnesses saw how the gunfight concluded. However, a fisherman in the area saw bodies loaded into wagons driven by federal agents, indicating neither the defenders nor the attackers were standing in the end.
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Murderous Family Still on the Run 25 Years Later
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Freelancer)
Twenty-five years ago, in Cherryvale Kansas, a family killed at least 20 people before fleeing into the night. Nobody knows for sure what their original names were or where they came from when they wandered into town in 1869. The name they went by in Cherryvale was Bender. There were four of them, John, his wife Elvira, and their two children, John Jr and Kate. Together they ran an inn outside of town, a reasonably popular place to sleep for settlers moving through the state. Over the years, many travelers would vanish, never to be seen again. The family was very odd, the parents didn’t speak English too well, and the children seemed a little too close to each other. Rumors spread that Kate believed in free love and was a psychic. But besides that, nobody suspected them.
In 1873, prominent Kansas doctor David Sumner disappeared. He was the brother of Civil War hero Nathaniel Sumner, famous for leading the Union Army at the Battle of Scarlett Meadows. Sumner personally went to Cherryvale and found out David had stayed at the Bender Inn; the family was not very convincing when they claimed to know nothing. That night, as Sumner held a meeting in town, the Benders packed up and ran. The next morning the Inn was found deserted, and the truth was quickly found. Blood was found all over the floorboards and in a trapdoor. In the backyard apple orchard, a shoe was discovered, along with the rest of the body. Not only was David Sumner found, but 19 other people, including women, children, and sometimes just body parts.
Judging by the bodies, the victims were struck in the head by a hammer before the throat was slashed by a knife. Since the parents were both over 60, it’s strongly suspected that John Jr and Kate were the ones doing the killing. Despite a public outcry, numerous possess, and a bounty that rapidly rose, the Bender family still remains on the loose. They are likely living under an assumed name by now and may or may not be in the five-state area. The bounty is currently 4000 dollars for the capture or killing of the entire family.
Massacre at Van Horn Saloon
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Freelancer)
A shootout over a card game at the Old Light Saloon left four dead, and two injured yesterday. Saloon owner Josie Dawson saw a well-dressed woman playing cards with three other rough and tumble gentlemen when one of them caught her cheating.
“I saw the man get up and yell all sorts of obscenities at the lady. Saying he saw her pulling cards out from beneath her skirt. I was about to tell the man to pipe down when shots were fired.”
The woman quickly drew two LeMat revolvers and flipped the hammers up, activating the shotgun attachment. Two shots were fired rapidly, hitting all three poker players, as well as a barmaid and the piano player. The poker players instantly fell dead, the barmaid was hit in the thigh and may survive. The piano player was only grazed in the arm. The woman quickly ran out the front door and onto a hitched black Arabian horse. A local mounted deputy tried to arrest the woman, but she fired two shots into the man’s horse. The poor Tennessee Walker collapsed, crushing the deputy who passed on two hours later.
When asked as to the identity of the woman, miss Dawson merely stated that she went by the nickname, Black Rose. Several witnesses are almost sure it was Myra Rose Hart, it’s been rumored that she goes by the name Black Rose since escaping prison months ago. The local sheriff is confident enough that bounty hunters have been dispatched to find her, this is reportedly not the first-time bounty hunters have gone after the criminal heiress.
Alligator population latest to see declines
By Aloysius Levron
For months alligator populations in the bayou seemed resistant to the decline in animal populations across the Five States. However, in the last few weeks alligator populations have suddenly collapsed. Conservationists point to the same cause as other population declines: hunting. “As other animal populations declined, hunters came to the bayou,” said conservationist Dolly Klepper, “they hunted alligators like they hunted everything else.” Alligators had been hunted heavily in the past. Conservationists claim that the alligators of the past were much larger but that these “monster gators” were hunted as prizes.
Still, the alligators of present day are far from small. Reduced demand for alligator related products slowed hunting down for a time but that time appears to have passed. For some, the alligator decline is not all bad. “The bayou ain’t so deep, just always had hidden gators,” said a cowpoke, “so now, I can just ride my horse through with impunity. I have new shortcuts available now.”
Braithwaites complain complains about trespassers
By Mathilde Orry
The Braithwaite family has filed a complaint with the Rhodes Sheriff. They claim that cowpokes have trespassed on their territory without consequences. While the Braithwaites employ their own guards, they are hesitant to get into gunfights every time a posse of cowpokes rides up to their manor. That’s not to say the guards have not engaged the trespassers in the past. However, the guards are never enough and are easily taken out by the invading cowpokes. Catherine Braithwaite had demanded that the sheriff do his job and begin arresting trespassers. Sheriff Leigh Gray has promised that his deputies will do their job to the best of their ability. “We can only get out to their manor so quickly,” said Sheriff Gray, “I don’t suppose they want me to station my deputies in their manor, do they?”
Hunters turn their guns on each other when they find no animals
By Adam Parvey
One does not need to read this paper to know that animal populations across the Five States have plummeted in recent weeks, though this paper has covered it extensively. Those who live in the Five States have experienced the animal population declines first hand. They have watched the thinning herds. They have seen the crows travel in murders of two! However, not everyone responds to this shared experience the same way.
Many cowpoke looked to other means of making money, from hunting men to hunting down items, cowpoke all over the Five States have found ways to adapt. A few still rely on hunting animals and they have a few tricks up their sleeves. “I block the ports,” said one cowpoke. Noticing I was confused he laughed and continued, “I got lots of money in the bank, ain’t no problem paying to block the ports and keep folks from coming in,” he winked. While it seemed a waste of resources, the cowpoke I spoke to said that with less folk around the animals come out of hiding.
Others, however have reverted to a base territorial instinct. Unwilling to hunt down items because they need to aim their rifle at something with a pulse, yet also unwilling to hunt down men for profit. These hunters, or true traders as they are sometimes called, have opted for informally claiming their hunting grounds through direct force. This week a man was killed while trying to hunt in the Great Plains. He lined up his shot on a lone bison, but the shot heard all the way to Blackwater was not his but a cowpoke protecting “their” hunting grounds.
The bison’s reprieve was temporary, as the cowpoke shot it promptly after. In Scarlett Meadows, a cowpoke was on his way to the butcher to sell pelts and a carcass when another cowpoke rode in front of him. The first cowpoke slowed down in time to avoid a crash, but was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The sole witness was a man picking herbs in the area. After he heard the gunshot he looked around and saw the man take the carcass from the victim’s horse and ride away. Tensions have always been high in the Five States, but they are higher than ever between hunters who are all seeking to claim the scarce game available.
State National Guards mobilize across the country
By Frederick Vannesse
The United States Navy is reportedly ready for a prolonged war. However, reports indicate the U.S. Army is may not be. While the U.S. Army has denied such reports and said they are ready to war, their actions tell a different story. Recruitment has not only ramped up in the last several months, but President MacAlister has gotten state governors to mobilize their state National Guards. This has swelled the Army’s ranks to what they believe is more than necessary for a prolonged fight in Cuba. “We must take the war to Cuba to secure their independence so they can align with the United States,” said a spokesman for the U.S. Army to explain the increase in recruitment.
In preparation of war, United States establishes a blockade around Cuba
By Ivy Seager
The path to war now seems inevitable. As the United States Congress continues to debate a declaration of war, President MacAlister has ordered a blockade around Cuba. For the last three years Cuba has been at war with the Spanish, who colonized the island. The United States has attempted to use the situation to increase its own influence in the region. The blockade is an attempt to cut off the Spanish on the island from from the Spanish Navy as well as put the U.S. Navy in a strong position to start a war.
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